Clippers down the Chasers in Triple-A Championship

The 2011 Pacific Coast League Championship
trophy was on hand at Fire Barn in Omaha where
fans gathered to watch the game
(Photo: Lee Warren)

Albuquerque, N.M. – If it wasn’t already clear that the Triple-A National Championship Game was primarily an exhibition, it became so on Tuesday night when Luis Mendoza started for the Kansas City Royals rather than the Omaha Storm Chasers.

While Mendoza was mowing down the Tigers in a 10-2 win at Kauffman Stadium, Sean O’Sullivan struggled, after having nine days off, in an 8-3 losing effort for the Storm Chasers against the Columbus Clippers.

The one-game, nationally-televised playoff showcase started out well for Omaha, but the offense and pitching stalled out after a first-inning display reminiscent of performances throughout this year’s championship run.

The Storm Chasers win the PCL Championship

Mike Montgomery tossed five shutout innings
and picked up the win in Sacramento
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

West Sacramento, Calif. – On April 7, Eric Hosmer stood in left field at Werner Park and fielded questions from a few reporters. He was aware that Omaha fell just one game short of the playoffs in 2010, prompting him to tell us, “Really, everyone in this clubhouse has one goal – and that’s just to win a championship.”

Even though Hosmer was probably rooting the team on from Kansas City after hitting a walkoff RBI double to give the Royals a 7-6 victory over Chicago, the mission was still accomplished.

The Omaha Storm Chasers defeated the Sacramento River Cats 11-6 Friday night to sweep the series and become the Pacific Coast League champions, giving the team its first league title since 1990 and first ever PCL championship since joining the league in 1998.

Q & A with Clint Robinson

Clint Robinson has done about everything a guy can do in the minor leagues.

The 2007, 25th round draft pick has played on two championship teams (with the 2008 Burlington Bees and the 2010 NW Arkansas Naturals) and is currently one win away from another one with the Omaha Storm Chasers.

The 26-year-old designated hitter/first baseman was the Idaho Falls Play of the Year in 2007 and he won the Triple Crown (.335 / 29 HR / 98 RBIs) for the Naturals in 2010. He had another great season for Omaha in 2011 (23 HR and 100 RBIs), earning the right to represent Omaha at the PCL All-Star game this summer and he was named to the All-PCL team.

Unfortunately for him, he’s stuck behind Billy Butler and Eric Hosmer at the big league level and it doesn’t look like he’s going to get his shot with the Royals. All year long he has told media that until he gets to the big leagues, he feels like he has something to prove. On Monday, before the Chasers worked out at Werner Park for the PCL Championship Series, he spoke with Omaha Baseball 360 about his season and the position he finds himself in.

Chasers win Game 2 of the PCL Championship Series

Jarrod Dyson finished 4-for-6 with a homer,
four RBIs, three runs, a double and a stolen base
(Photo from Game 1: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Omaha, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers drew one step closer to winning its first Pacific Coast League championship Wednesday night at Werner Park when they trounced the Sacramento River Cats 15-4 in front of 4,039 fans.

The Chasers fell behind early. Omaha starter Vin Mazzaro struggled with his command in the first inning, in which he threw 30 pitches (16 balls). He gave up a single to Jermaine Mitchell to lead off the game. Mitchell stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Josh Donaldson. Adrian Cardenas then took Mazzaro deep to right field to give Sacramento an early 3-0 lead.

“I wasn’t real happy – you give them three runs in the first,” said Omaha manager Mike Jirschele after the game. “But you know what? Our guys battled back and got us one right away to put us within two. We had eight innings to go after that, so we were still in the game.”

Omaha wins Game 1 of the PCL Championship Series

Luis Mendoza picked up his second win of the postseason
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Omaha, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers continue to win in the most unlikely of ways.

On Tuesday night, during Game 1 of the PCL Championship Series, David Lough ripped a ball down the right field line, but stumbled and fell on his way to second base in the seventh inning. He scrambled back to first in time and was followed by Lorenzo Cain, who hit a blooper into right field that Grant Greene was unable to corral and Lough was able to score what turned out to be the winning run all the way from first base.

The 3-2 win for the Chasers gives them a 1-0 lead over the Sacramento River Cats in the best of five, PCL Championship Series. And the 4,203 fans who were in attendance couldn’t have been happier. As has been the case throughout the playoffs, fans gave players standing ovations and were engaged with every pitch. Rob White, from the Omaha World Herald, wrote a blog post about this. Check it out if you get a chance.

Omaha wins the PCL American Conference Championship

The Storm Chasers pose for a celebratory picture
(Photo: Lee Warren)

Omaha, Neb. – Kila Ka’aihue’s two-run walkoff home run in the bottom of the tenth inning Saturday gave the Omaha Storm Chasers the Pacific Coast League American Conference Championship and while it wasn’t the shot heard around the world, if you were anywhere near Werner Park, you certainly heard the celebration.

Ka’iahue’s blast off Round Rock reliever Tanner Scheppers hit the right field foul pole, giving the Chasers a 4-2 win and a place in the PCL Championship Series, set to begin at Werner Park on Tuesday night.

“He’s got a good fastball,” Ka’aihue said after the game. “That’s all I was looking for. I was fortunate enough – I saw it the at bat before and I had a better swing this time ... If he’s going to get beat, I’m sure he can live with getting beat with his best pitch. And if he beats me with another pitch, he beats me with another pitch. He’s bringing his best pitch – this time I got him, the last time he got me.”

Mendoza and Robinson lead Omaha to Game 1 win

Clint Robinson blasted a two-run home run in the first inning
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Round Rock, Tex. – Luis Mendoza and Kelvin Herrera combined on a five-hit shutout, leading the Omaha Storm Chasers to a 4-0 Game 1 victory, in the best-of-five series, over the Round Rock Express at The Dell Diamond Wednesday night.

Mendoza, the PCL Pitcher of the Year, held the Express to five hits and two walks in seven shutout innings, striking out four batters. He improved his road record to 11-1 with a 1.91 ERA between the regular and postseason away from Werner Park, including 10-0 in his last 11 appearances. Mendoza (1-0) handed the game off to Royals’ Paul Splittorff Minor League Pitcher of the Year Kelvin Herrera, who needed just 22 pitches to toss two perfect innings with four strikeouts.

The Chasers got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning, scoring three runs just four batters into the game against Round Rock starting and losing pitcher Eric Hurley (0-1).

Chasers drop final game of the regular season

Kurt Mertins was 2-for-3 with a run scored
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Des Moines, IA – The regular season came to and a disappointing end Monday at Principal Park with a 7-2 loss to Iowa. The Chasers dropped their final two games to finish 79-63 and missed out on winning 80 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history.

Brett Jackson’s lead off long ball in the home first got the scoring started and was the first home run allowed by Omaha starter Kevin Pucetas since June 30. The Cubs added another run in the second on a two-out RBI hit by their Canadian catcher Chris Robinson, who was honored on Chris Robinson Day at the ballpark.

The Chasers tied the game in the third on run-scoring hits by David Lough and Clint Robinson, who joined Chris Hatcher, who collected 106 RBIs in 1998, as the only players in franchise history to drive in 100 runs in a single season. However, Omaha was blanked over the final six innings by Jay Jackson, Nick Struck and Robert Coello.

Chasers shut down by Cubs' pitching

Jarrod Dyson drove in the only run for Omaha
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Des Moines, IA – Mario Mercedes tripled in the game-winning run in the sixth inning to lift Iowa to a 2-1 victory over Omaha Sunday night in the middle of a three-game series at Principal Park.

The Storm Chasers fell to 79-62 and will have one last chance to win 80-or-more games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history.

D.J. LeMahieu’s run-scoring single in the first inning put the Cubs in front before Jarrod Dyson’s RBI double in third evened the count. From there, the Chasers were shut down by Chris Rusin, Andrew Cashner, Chris Carpenter and Scott Maine, who held them scoreless on six hits over the final six innings.

Omaha drops final regular season home game

Kevin Pucetas threw four innings of scoreless relief,
extending his scoreless innings streak to 9.2.
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Omaha, Neb. – A day after clinching the franchise’s first postseason berth in 12 years, the Storm Chasers got off to a hot start before running out of gas in a 9-4 defeat to the Round Rock Express. The Thursday night crowd of 8,927 pushed the Werner Park inaugural season attendance total to 410,326.

All of the Chasers’ scoring took place in the bottom of the first inning off eventual winning pitcher Martin Perez (4-4). After loading the bases with nobody out on two walks and a bunt single, Lorenzo Cain drove in a run with a ground out to make it 1-0 in favor of Omaha. Joaquin Arias followed with a two-run single and Manny Pina added a sacrifice fly, making it a 4-0 ballgame in the early going.

Perez held the Storm Chasers to just two hits and no walks in his next four innings, departing with a 6-4 lead after five innings of play. The 20-year-old lefty struck out five, keeping the Chasers off-balance with his excellent change-up.

Chasers win the PCL American North

The Chasers celebrate after securing the win,
knowing the division title could come later.
(Photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Omaha, Neb. – Mike Jirschele stood on a folding chair in the clubhouse, surrounded by smiling faces after his team defeated Round Rock and then learned Albuquerque had defeated Memphis, giving Omaha the PCL American North division title.

“First of all, thank you everybody,” Jirschele said. “This is for a great year. I appreciate everything you guys have done. I know some of you hate me, but whatever.”

Cheers and mock jeers filled the room. Celebrations varied throughout the night, but one of the most interesting came from Sean O’Sullivan who performed a Michael Jackson dance exhibition.

“We’ve got a ways to go yet,” Jirschele continued. “We’ve got to be ready for the playoffs. And it’s past curfew, you all owe me a hundred dollars.”

Chasers lose a close one, but magic number reduced to two

David Lough was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a BB.
(File photo: Gage Matthews / Kings of Kauffman)

Omaha, Neb. – Round Rock catcher Taylor Teagarden belted two solo home runs, leading the Express past the Storm Chasers 3-2 Tuesday night at Werner Park. The Chasers put the tying run in scoring position in both the eighth and ninth innings, but were unable to score the equalizer.

“We battled,” said Omaha manager Mike Jirschele after the game about the team the Chasers will face in the playoffs, if they can maintain their lead.

“It was a tough game,” he said. “You know, we play these guys tough all the time – they are up, what now, 10-4 [in the season series] on the year? But if you look at it, I think there was only one game where we got beat by seven, but otherwise, there have been a lot of two-run, one-run games – extra innings. You know, we play them tough. 

“But what hurt us tonight is when we lost Clint [Robinson] and Kila [Ka’aihue] both and you’ve got to put Mertins and Zawadzki in the four and five hole for most of the game. Not that they can’t do the job, but it hurts when you lose those two big boppers.”

Giavotella, Mendoza and Robinson named to All-PCL team

Luis Mendoza is 11-5 with a league-leading 2.15 ERA
(File photo: Lee Warren)

The Omaha Storm Chasers’ storybook inaugural season added another chapter Monday, as the Pacific Coast League named Johnny Giavotella, Luis Mendoza and Clint Robinson to its prestigious 12-member All-PCL Team.

Giavotella, the All-PCL second baseman, batted .338 with nine home runs, 72 RBIs, 34 doubles and 67 runs scored in 110 games with the Storm Chasers this season. He was honored as the league’s All-Star representative at second base and was also named the PCL Player of the Month for June, during which he batted .398 (49-for-123). He was promoted to the Kansas City Royals on August 5.

4-3 Omaha win reduces magic number to three

Clint Robinson is hitting .404 in August.
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Omaha, Neb. – Willy Lebron pitched three scoreless innings of relief, ensuring that Clint Robinson’s go-ahead two-run single would be enough for the Chasers to defeat the Round Rock Express 4-3 Monday night at Werner Park.

After the game, Omaha manager Mike Jirschele spoke about Robinson, who is hitting .404 with 29 RBIs in August.

“He made two outstanding [defensive] plays tonight,” Jirschele said. “Besides that, he’s seeing the ball good – swinging the bat well. He’s on a mission right now and he’s been helping to carry this club.”

The victory reduced the Storm Chasers’ magic number to three with seven games remaining, but Jirschele was quick to point out that the Chasers need to stay focused.

“Memphis has got a good club,” he said. “They could easily win out. So we’ve got to be able to go out and win three more games yet.”

Omaha wins a wild one

Kevin Pucetas tossed 4.2 scoreless innings in relief.
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Metairie, LA – Kevin Pucetas was sensational through 4.2 scoreless innings of relief work as Omaha rebounded from a slow start to overtake and then hang on to down New Orleans in a wild 11-10 affair Sunday evening in the last of a five-game series at Zephyr Field. 

The Storm Chasers lifted their record to 76-59, maintained their four-game lead over Memphis with eight to play and reduced their magic number to clinch the division title to four.

Lorenzo Cain’s sacrifice fly drove in Jarrod Dyson three batters into the game but the Zephyrs responded in the home half of the inning with Mike Cervenak’s two-out, two-run home run.

Omaha and Memphis both lose, magic number drops to five

Metairie, LA – Alex Romero had four hits, scored a run and drove in a run as New Orleans held off Omaha, 6-3, Saturday evening in the fourth of a five-game series at Zephyr Field. The Storm Chasers fell to 75-59, but maintained their four-game lead over Memphis, since they lost as well, in the PCL American North. The Chaser's magic number dropped to five.

 Trailing 6-3, the Chasers two last-gasp efforts failed when they put runners at second and third with nobody out in the eighth but could not score, as Dan Jennings got Clint Robinson to fly out before striking out Kila Ka’aihue and retiring Irving Falu on a ground out. Victor Garate was called on with runners at the corners and two out in the ninth and got David Lough to fly out to end the game and secure the hosts second win of the series.

Jorge Padilla and Joe Thurston opened the home first with back-to-back doubles to produce the game’s first run against Omaha starter Jeff Suppan, who avoided further damage by stranding Thurston at third with one out.

New Orleans expanded its lead to 4-0 in the fifth on a run-scoring base hit by Padilla, a former Omaha outfielder, and a two-run double from Vinny Rottino. Omaha started its comeback in the next half inning as the middle of the order rallied for three runs with two out against New Orleans starter Tom Koehler, who lasted 5.2 innings to pick up his 11th win of the season.

Chasers trounce the Zephyrs, trim magic number to six

Joaquin Arias was 3-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBIs
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Metairie, LA – Joaquin Arias collected three hits, scored three times and blasted a three-run homer as Omaha rolled over New Orleans, 14-1, Friday night in the middle contest of a five-game series at Zephyr Field.

The Storm Chasers improved to 75-58, pushed their lead over Memphis back to four games and trimmed their magic number to six to clinch their first division title since 1999.

Clint Robinson started the second inning with a single, moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Irving Falu’s one-out base hit to get the Chasers on the board. Matt Dominguez led off the home half of the inning with a home run, his 12th of the season and fifth against Omaha. The long ball ended a stretch of 61 innings for Omaha starter Luis Mendoza since he had last yielded a home run on June 28 to Andrew Brown of Memphis.

Omaha drops second game of series in New Orleans

Clint Robinson was 4-for-4 with a home run and is
hitting .405 over his last ten games.
(File photo: Lee Warren)

Metairie, LA – Elih Villanueva was strong through seven innings and two big rallies were too much for Omaha to overcome in an 8-2 defeat at the hands of New Orleans Thursday night in the second of a five-game series at Zephyr Field. 

The Storm Chasers dipped to 74-58, lost a six-game road win streak and saw their magic number to clinch their first playoff berth in 12 years remain at eight.

Omaha broke through in the fourth inning with the game’s first run on a base hit by Clint Robinson that scored Lorenzo Cain, who had singled and advanced to second base on an error. However, the lead didn’t last long, as the hosts posted four runs in their half of the inning.

Omaha unable to overcome six errors

Omaha starter Jeff Suppan allowed one earned
run in 6.1 innings pitched, giving up six hits
and one walk to go with one strikeout.
(Photo: Brad Williams Photography)

 

Omaha, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers dropped a 7-3, 11-inning decision to Nashville Monday evening at Werner Park – a game marred by six Chasers errors that aided six of the Sounds seven runs. Omaha was unable to capitalize on a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth that sent the game to extras, remaining winless at Werner Park when trailing after eight innings.

Before the game reached extra innings, the Chasers were able to forge a tie with two out in the ninth thanks to some patience at the plate and a clutch base hit.

With David Lough aboard at third and two men already out, Clint Robinson coaxed a free pass from reliever Donovan Hand, followed by an infield single by Kila Ka’aihue to score Lough and bring the Chasers to within a run at 3-2. After Irving Falu worked a six-pitch walk to load the bases, Yamaico Navarro smashed a grounder past a diving Eric Farris at second base. Pinch-runner Joaquin Arias scored easily, but rightfielder Caleb Gindl’s throw home was on the money to gun down pinch-runner Kurt Mertins, ending the ninth with a 3-3 score. It was one of two innings in which the Chasers made the third out on the basepaths.

Mendoza picks up his first win at home

Luis Mendoza has compiled a 1.23 ERA
over his last 102.2 innings pitched.
(Photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Omaha, Neb. – Storm Chasers ace righthander Luis Mendoza has been the Pacific Coast League’s premier pitcher for most of the 2011 season, but despite all the accomplishments he had yet to taste victory at home – until Sunday. Clint Robinson gave Mendoza all the offense he would need, driving in four runs during the Chasers’ 5-3 win over Nashville in front of 8,034 fans at Werner Park.

Mendoza (10-5), who lowered his ERA to 2.18, held the hot-hitting Nashville Sounds to an unearned run on five hits over seven innings, walking one and striking out one. He threw 62 of his 99 pitches for strikes, improving to 1-4 at Werner Park. Since May 26th, Mendoza has compiled a 1.23 ERA over 102.2 innings pitched.

The Chasers got on the board in the first inning, after Lorenzo Cain reached on a two-out walk and moved into scoring position on an errant throw on a pickoff attempt. Robinson, batting fourth, lined a ball over the head of rightfielder Caleb Gindl for an RBI double, his 32nd double of the season and eighth since August 9.